Arizona weekly enterprise., 1887-06-18
BEGINNING A LIBRARY.
Few Reliable Suggestions on the Proper
 Selection of Books.

0~-~N~eO-A
 There comes time in the life of most young readers when he or she is anxious to own a library. The desire is often frustrated, sometimes by poverty, but as frequently by wrong idea as to what makes library. Middle-aged readers gaze somewhat sadly, now and then, upon collection of books which, years ago, they labeled My Library" It has not grown; it has been but little used; and the owner is seldom drawn to it. It is simply a number of bound volumes placed upon shelves.
 When the reader began it he thought that collection of books made library. He added volume after volume; felt pride in seeing the collection increase, and one day woke up to the fact that he had no mental use for lot of books gathered without purpose and ar ranged upon no plan. If young per son would own library he should begin by gathering books which he can, will and must use. His pocket money may amount to only few dollars; but he will act judiciously if he spends every penny of it for one book, which he will use frequently rather than for dozen books, the only parts of which he really admires are the backs and covers.
 Nine boys out of ten will act wisely if they make an unabridged dictionary the ''corner-st5ne' of their libraries To purchase it may devour the savings of year. but the dictionary will prove a good investment, even at that cost. Let the next purchase be a good atlas, one that represents the earth, and not merely that portion of it known as the United States of America. There are some things happening every day out side of this country, which is not the only stage on which tragedies, melo- dramas and farces are enacted. The dictionary and atlas should be supple mented by biographical dictionary, by dictionary of dates, and by Brewer S Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. " With these five books a boy or girl is prepared to read intelligently the news paper and monthly magazine. To be sure, the library is very small, but if it is daily used it will increase in value.
 The intelligent reading of news paper or magazine includes the habit, which every young reader should form, of consulting the library. of five volumes to learn the meaning of words and allusions, the position of places, the time of historical events, the peculiarities of persons mentioned in the periodicals. Then let no one of these pass without challenging it to stand, while you learn all about it. Reading in this way, you will soon find it necessary to increase the small library by adding to it an encyclopaedia. !, Some of these may seem too costly fo1 I the ordinary purse, but the least costly will be an acquisition of the right sort. The library, thus increased by healthy growth, may be enlarged by adding, from time to time, any book which responds to the readers bent of mind, or gratifies his desire for knowledge or for mental exhilaration. There are times when every reader desires to be tss sitttt-etst~o himself and away from his surroundings. The book wnlcl, enables him to fly away and be at.rest, and then returns him without injury to his everyday life, is a serviceable book.
 My library" says an intelligent writer, "should grow with my mind, my taste and my desire for knowledge. It thus becomes my serviceable friend, to whom I may turn for instruction, refreshment and exhilaration. I know it; and it seems so real companion that muse if it is not the substance oi what is, and I only the shadow of what may be. Youth's Compa,aion.